Spend a Day in Petoskey

Begin your day by swinging into Crooked Tree Breadworks (2264 M-119, 231-347-9574) for scones, muffins or a tub of the house’s legendary granola–perfect snacks for packing in your beach bag. Tote your yummy haul to Petoskey State Park Beach (2475 M-119, 231-347-2311), consistently voted by locals to be the best beach around. Post beach, head into downtown Petoskey for lunch at Feast Market and Cafe (410 Howard St., 231-439-9400, feastmarketandcafe.com). Expect an inspired menu featuring spicy Thai beef wraps, roasted veggie sandwiches, three-potato salad and Israeli couscous. Live outdoor entertainment is just across the street as part of Petoskey’s Music in the Park series (Tuesdays during the day and Friday days and evenings, all summer long). If you prefer a quieter picnic place, head to Bayfront Park (101 E. Lake St.), a picturesque Petoskey landmark.

YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW: The bayside city of Petoskey has long been famous for its million dollar sunsets–since 1873, in fact, when Grand Rapids Times reporter George Gage described the one he saw as such on November 25, 1873, the night the first steam locomotive arrived in the new town.